(Description) Figure 4 Structure of streptomycin. An exposed hydroxyl (-OH) group that can be modified by aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes is highlighted in green (in the figure the hydroxyl group is shown as -HO – this is the same as -OH).

Week 3: How do bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?

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This figure shows the structure of streptomycin, an aminoglycoside. It has three rings including both a 5-membered and a 6-membered sugar ring. All three rings have hydroxyl and amino groups attached; and one of the two OH substituents (highlighted in green) on the 6-membered sugar ring is a target site for inactivating enzymes.

1.2 Destroying or modifying the antibiotic molecule